Appearance
Vocab: Feelings — A2 (2)
Feelings vocabulary at A2 level.
Maskulin Feminin Neutrum Plural
kümmern — to take care of, to deal with
The most common pattern is sich um etwas/jemanden kümmern, with um taking the accusative. Do not leave out the reflexive pronoun: Ich kümmere mich, not normally Ich kümmere in this meaning.
Ich kümmere mich um die Kinder.
I take care of the children.
mich means myself and die Kinder means the children. The expression is sich um etwas kümmern: mich is the reflexive accusative, die Kinder is accusative after um, and the finite verb kümmere is in position two.
Wir haben uns um die Gäste gekümmert.
We took care of the guests.
uns means ourselves and die Gäste means the guests. The perfect uses haben plus gekümmert at the end; uns is reflexive accusative, while die Gäste is accusative after um.
Er kümmerte sich um die Reparatur.
He dealt with the repair.
er means he and die Reparatur means the repair. Sich is the reflexive object, and die Reparatur is accusative after um; the weak-verb preterite kümmerte stands in position two.
Kümmere dich bitte um den Hund!
Please take care of the dog!
bitte means please and der Hund means the dog. The imperative omits du, but dich is required as the reflexive object; den Hund is accusative after um.
Wenn ich mehr Zeit hätte, kümmerte ich mich selbst um das Problem.
If I had more time, I would deal with the problem myself.
mehr Zeit means more time, selbst means myself, and das Problem means the problem. Here kümmerte is Konjunktiv II in a hypothetical sentence; mich is reflexive accusative and das Problem is accusative after um.
Ich werde mich morgen um die Anmeldung kümmern.
I will deal with the registration tomorrow.
morgen means tomorrow and die Anmeldung means the registration or sign-up. The expression requires mich and um die Anmeldung; in the future, werde is in position two and the infinitive kümmern goes to the end.
die Laune — mood; whim, sudden mood
The common phrase gute Laune haben means to be in a good mood, while schlechte Laune haben means to be in a bad mood. German normally uses Laune haben, not a direct translation with sein.
Meine Laune ist heute sehr gut.
I am in a very good mood today.
heute means today and sehr gut means very good. Meine Laune is nominative because it is the subject; after the linking verb ist, gut has no adjective ending.
Der Regen macht mir schlechte Laune.
The rain puts me in a bad mood.
Regen means rain and schlechte means bad. schlechte Laune is accusative because machen takes what is caused as an accusative object, while mir is dative for the person affected.
Er ist wegen seiner Laune schwierig.
He is difficult because of his mood.
wegen means because of and schwierig means difficult. Strictly, wegen seiner Laune is genitive, not dative; the phrase explains the reason, and the finite verb ist is in position two.
Die Ursache seiner Laune ist unklar.
The cause of his mood is unclear.
Ursache means cause and unklar means unclear. seiner Laune is genitive because it identifies whose mood is meant; ist is the finite verb in position two.
Ihre Launen wechseln oft.
Her moods often change.
ihre means her, wechseln means change, and oft means often. Ihre Launen is a plural subject, so the verb is wechseln.
Heute habe ich keine Laune zum Kochen.
Today I don't feel like cooking.
heute means today, keine means no, and zum Kochen means cooking or to cook. keine Laune is accusative after haben; zum is a contraction of zu dem, and the finite verb habe is in position two.
Er hat aus einer Laune heraus ein teures Fahrrad gekauft.
On a whim, he bought an expensive bicycle.
aus einer Laune heraus means on a whim, teuer means expensive, and Fahrrad means bicycle. The phrase uses dative after aus, while ein teures Fahrrad is accusative because gekauft takes a direct object.
Sie entscheidet nach Laune, ob sie mitkommt.
She decides according to her mood whether she will come along.
entscheidet means decides, ob means whether, and mitkommt means comes along. nach Laune means according to her mood and uses dative after nach; in the ob clause, the separable verb mitkommen stays together at the end.
leiden — to suffer; to endure; to suffer from an illness
For a condition or source of suffering, leiden commonly takes unter plus dative: unter Stress leiden. Its perfect is formed with haben, and the strong verb has the principal parts leiden – litt – hat gelitten.
Viele Menschen leiden unter Stress.
Many people suffer from stress.
Viele Menschen means many people, and Stress means stress. unter takes the dative here because leiden unter describes a condition, not movement; the finite verb leiden stands in position two.
Sie hat lange unter der Trennung gelitten.
She suffered from the separation for a long time.
lange means for a long time, and die Trennung is the separation. unter der Trennung is dative after unter in this fixed expression; hat is the finite verb in position two and gelitten closes the perfect-tense bracket.
Er litt als Kind oft unter Kopfschmerzen.
As a child, he often suffered from headaches.
als Kind means as a child, oft means often, and Kopfschmerzen means headaches. litt is the irregular Präteritum form, and unter Kopfschmerzen is a dative phrase because leiden unter takes dative.
Leide nicht allein!
Do not suffer alone!
nicht means not, and allein means alone. Leide is the singular imperative, so du is left out and the verb comes first; nicht follows the verb.
Wenn ich dort bleiben müsste, würde ich sehr leiden.
If I had to stay there, I would suffer greatly.
dort means there, bleiben means to stay, and sehr means greatly or very much. In the wenn clause, müsste goes to the end; in the main clause, würde is in position two and the infinitive leiden closes the bracket.
Ohne Hilfe wird der Patient weiter leiden.
Without help, the patient will continue to suffer.
ohne Hilfe means without help, der Patient is the patient, and weiter means further or continuously. ohne takes the accusative, while wird stands in position two and the infinitive leiden goes to the end in the future tense.
Mein Bruder leidet an Asthma.
My brother suffers from asthma.
Mein Bruder means my brother, and Asthma is asthma. an takes the dative in an Asthma leiden; the finite verb leidet stands in position two.
Die Patientin hat an einer seltenen Krankheit gelitten.
The female patient suffered from a rare illness.
Die Patientin means the female patient, selten means rare, and die Krankheit means illness. an einer seltenen Krankheit is dative after an in this expression, while hat comes early and gelitten goes to the end.
das Lob — praise; compliment
Lob is normally an uncountable noun, so it has no ordinary plural. Do not confuse das Lob with loben, the verb meaning to praise.
Das Lob freut mich.
The praise makes me happy.
freut mich means makes me happy, and mich means me. Das Lob is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb freut stands in position two, and mich is accusative after the verb.
Die Lehrerin gibt das Lob dem Schüler.
The teacher gives the praise to the pupil.
Die Lehrerin means the teacher, gibt means gives, and dem Schüler means to the pupil. das Lob is accusative as the thing given, while dem Schüler is dative as the recipient.
Alle freuen sich über das Lob.
Everyone is pleased about the praise.
Alle means everyone, and freuen sich means are pleased. This sentence does not contain a dative form: über das Lob is an accusative prepositional phrase because über means about here; sich freuen über is a fixed structure.
Die Wirkung des Lobs war groß.
The effect of the praise was great.
Die Wirkung means the effect, war means was, and groß means great or large. des Lobs is genitive and identifies whose effect it was; the noun Lob takes -s in the genitive singular.
die Lust — desire, wish; pleasure; sexual desire
The common expression is Lust auf etwas haben or Lust zu etwas haben: auf takes the accusative, while zu takes the infinitive with zu. The plural Lüste is mainly used for several distinct desires or cravings.
Die Lust auf Urlaub ist groß.
The desire for a holiday is strong.
Urlaub means holiday, and groß means strong or great. Die Lust is the nominative subject, and auf Urlaub uses auf with the accusative because it names the thing desired; the verb ist is in position two.
Ich habe Lust auf einen Film.
I feel like watching a film.
einen Film means a film, and haben means have. Lust haben auf is a fixed expression; auf takes the accusative here, so einen Film is accusative, while habe is in position two.
Mit großer Lust kocht sie für ihre Freunde.
She cooks for her friends with great enthusiasm.
mit großer Lust means with great enthusiasm, kocht means cooks, and ihre Freunde means her friends. Mit always takes the dative, so großer Lust is dative; kocht is in position two and für takes the accusative in ihre Freunde.
Die Stärke der Lust überrascht ihn.
The strength of the desire surprises him.
die Stärke means the strength, and überrascht means surprises. Der Lust is genitive after die Stärke to show what kind of strength it is; ihn is accusative because he is the person affected by überraschen.
Die Lüste des Körpers können sehr stark sein.
The body's desires can be very strong.
des Körpers means of the body, and stark means strong. Die Lüste is the plural subject, while des Körpers is genitive; after the modal können, the infinitive sein goes to the end.
Sie hat keine Lust auf Sex.
She has no desire for sex.
keine means no, and Sex means sex. Lust auf is a fixed combination, and auf takes the accusative here; the sentence uses hat in position two.
Nach dem Stress fehlt ihm die Lust.
After the stress, he has no sexual desire.
nach dem Stress means after the stress, and fehlt means is missing. Ihm is dative because fehlen means be missing to someone, while die Lust is the nominative thing that is missing; fehlt is in position two.
meckern — to complain, to grumble; to bleat
Meckern is usually informal and suggests repeated, irritating complaining. It normally takes über plus the accusative for the thing complained about.
Er meckert ständig über das Wetter.
He is constantly complaining about the weather.
ständig means constantly, and das Wetter means the weather. The finite verb meckert is in position two; über takes the accusative here, so das Wetter is accusative.
Sie hat den ganzen Abend gemeckert.
She complained the whole evening.
den ganzen Abend means the whole evening. The perfect uses hat plus gemeckert; the auxiliary is in position two and the Partizip II goes to the end.
Mein Bruder meckerte über das Essen.
My brother complained about the food.
mein Bruder means my brother, and das Essen means the food. Über takes the accusative in this expression, and the regular past form meckerte stands in position two.
Mecker nicht über jede Kleinigkeit!
Don’t complain about every little thing!
nicht means not, and jede Kleinigkeit means every little thing. Mecker is the informal singular imperative; über takes the accusative, and the command has no subject pronoun.
Wenn er weniger meckern würde, wäre die Stimmung besser.
If he complained less, the atmosphere would be better.
weniger means less, and die Stimmung means the atmosphere or mood. In the wenn clause, the verb group goes to the end; würde meckern expresses an unreal or hypothetical situation.
Morgen wird er wieder über die Arbeit meckern.
Tomorrow he will complain about the work again.
morgen means tomorrow, wieder means again, and die Arbeit means the work. Future uses wird in position two and the infinitive meckern at the end; über takes the accusative.
Die Ziege meckert im Garten.
The goat is bleating in the garden.
die Ziege means the goat, and im Garten means in the garden. The finite verb meckert is in position two; im is short for in dem and marks a location with the dative.
Warum meckert das Tier so laut?
Why is the animal bleating so loudly?
das Tier means the animal, and so laut means so loudly. In this question, warum comes first and the finite verb meckert follows it directly.
merkwürdig — strange; unusual
Merkwürdig can mean simply unusual or can suggest that something is suspicious. It is not the same as English ‘remarkable’, which is often positive.
Das ist merkwürdig.
That is strange.
das means that or this, and ist means is. Merkwürdig is predicative, so it has no adjective ending after sein; the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Sie erzählt eine merkwürdige Geschichte.
She is telling a strange story.
erzählt means tells, and eine Geschichte means a story. Eine merkwürdige Geschichte is accusative because erzählen takes a direct object; the adjective has -e after the indefinite article in feminine accusative.
Heute wirkt der Film merkwürdiger als gestern.
Today the film seems stranger than yesterday.
heute means today, wirkt means seems, and gestern means yesterday. Merkwürdiger is comparative and is predicative after wirken, so it has no ending; als introduces the comparison.
Das war der merkwürdigste Zufall meines Lebens.
That was the strangest coincidence of my life.
der Zufall means the coincidence and meines Lebens means of my life. Der merkwürdigste Zufall is nominative after das war, and the adjective takes -ste with the definite article; meines Lebens is genitive possession.
mutig — brave, courageous
Mutig describes a person or action that shows courage. It is a regular adjective: mutiger is the comparative and am mutigsten is the superlative.
Die Feuerwehrfrau ist mutig.
The female firefighter is brave.
die Feuerwehrfrau means the female firefighter. Mutig is predicative after ist, so it has no adjective ending; the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Das ist ein mutiger Junge.
That is a brave boy.
Junge means boy, and das means that in this sentence. Mutiger stands before Junge and describes it; after the masculine nominative article ein, the adjective takes -er.
Lena ist mutiger als ihr Bruder.
Lena is braver than her brother.
ihr Bruder means her brother. Mutiger compares Lena with her brother and is predicative, so it has no adjective ending; als introduces the second person or thing in the comparison.
Von allen war Tom am mutigsten.
Tom was the bravest of them all.
von allen means of them all, and war means was. Von takes dative, while am mutigsten is the adverbial superlative; it comes after war and has no noun ending.
necken — to tease, to make fun of
Necken normally means to tease someone in a playful way, not to insult them seriously. It takes an accusative object, as in jemanden necken, and forms the perfect with haben: hat geneckt.
Er neckt seinen Bruder.
He teases his brother.
Er means he, and seinen Bruder means his brother. Seinen Bruder is accusative because necken takes a direct object; the finite verb neckt stands in position two.
Sie hat mich nur geneckt.
She was only teasing me.
Sie means she, mich means me, and nur means only. Mich is accusative because it is the object of necken; hat is in position two and geneckt goes to the end with haben.
Als Kinder neckten wir uns oft.
When we were children, we often teased each other.
Als Kinder means when we were children, oft means often, and uns means each other here. Neckten is the weak-verb preterite; the subordinate clause with als comes first, so the finite verb neckten is in position two of the main clause.
Necke ihn nicht!
Don't tease him!
Ihn means him, and nicht means not. Necke is the du imperative and ihn is accusative because necken takes a direct object; the subject du is left out.
Ich würde dich nicht necken.
I would not tease you.
Ich means I, dich means you, and nicht means not. Würde ... necken expresses a hypothetical or polite idea; the infinitive necken stands at the end, and dich is accusative.
Er wird seine Schwester später necken.
He will tease his sister later.
Seine Schwester means his sister, and später means later. Wird is the finite future auxiliary in position two, while the infinitive necken goes to the end; seine Schwester is accusative.
nervös — nervous, anxious
Nervös usually describes worry or tension before something important. The opposite is ruhig or entspannt; do not confuse nervös with English nervous in every medical context.
Vor der Prüfung bin ich sehr nervös.
I am very nervous before the exam.
die Prüfung is the exam, and vor means before; sehr means very. Vor takes the dative here because it expresses a time, not movement, and nervös comes after bin as a predicative adjective.
Die nervöse Schülerin wartet vor dem Büro.
The nervous schoolgirl is waiting outside the office.
die Schülerin is the schoolgirl, warten means to wait, and das Büro is the office. Nervöse stands before the feminine nominative noun and therefore has the -e ending; the finite verb wartet is in position two.
Tom ist heute nervöser als gestern.
Tom is more nervous today than yesterday.
heute means today and gestern means yesterday. Nervöser compares Tom with yesterday and is used after ist; German uses als, not wie, after a comparative.
Vor dem Auftritt ist Lea am nervösesten.
Lea is the most nervous before the performance.
der Auftritt is the performance, and vor means before. The am nervösesten form is the predicative superlative after ist; before a noun, use an ending such as der nervöseste.
die Neugier — curiosity
Neugier is an abstract noun for the wish to know something. It is normally uncountable, so it has no ordinary plural; aus Neugier means out of curiosity.
Neugier ist etwas ganz Natürliches.
Curiosity is something completely natural.
etwas ganz Natürliches means something completely natural. Neugier is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb ist is in position two.
Meine Neugier konnte ich nicht verbergen.
I could not hide my curiosity.
meine means my, and verbergen means to hide. Neugier is accusative because verbergen takes a direct object; the verb konnte is in position two.
Aus Neugier stellte sie viele Fragen.
Out of curiosity, she asked many questions.
aus means out of, and stellte viele Fragen means asked many questions. Aus always takes the dative, so the feminine noun remains Neugier; stellte is in position two.
Die Ursache ihrer Neugier war ein seltsames Geräusch.
The cause of her curiosity was a strange noise.
die Ursache means the cause, ihrer means her, and ein seltsames Geräusch means a strange noise. ihrer Neugier is genitive and shows possession; the finite verb war is in position two.
optimistisch — optimistic
Optimistisch describes a positive expectation about the future or a situation. The opposite is pessimistisch; the regular comparison is optimistischer, am optimistischsten.
Sie ist optimistisch.
She is optimistic.
sie means she, and sein means to be. Optimistisch is predicative after ist, so it has no adjective ending; it describes the subject rather than standing directly before a noun.
Er hat eine optimistische Einstellung.
He has an optimistic attitude.
eine Einstellung is an attitude or outlook, and haben means to have. Optimistische stands before the feminine accusative noun Einstellung and takes -e after the indefinite article eine.
Mia ist optimistischer als ihr Bruder.
Mia is more optimistic than her brother.
ihr Bruder means her brother, and als means than. Optimistischer is the comparative after ist and has no ending because it is predicative; comparisons of unequal things use als.
Von allen ist Tom am optimistischsten.
Of everyone, Tom is the most optimistic.
von allen means of all or among everyone, and von takes the dative. Am optimistischsten is the predicative superlative with am; it does not take a noun ending in this construction.
optimistisch — optimistically; in an optimistic way
As an adverb, optimistisch describes how someone acts, speaks, or looks at a situation. It does not take adjective endings, so it remains optimistisch before or after the verb.
Er blickt optimistisch in die Zukunft.
He looks to the future optimistically.
blicken means to look, in die Zukunft means to the future, and Zukunft is the future. Optimistisch modifies the verb blickt, so it is an adverb and has no adjective ending; blickt stands in position two.
Sie spricht optimistisch über den neuen Plan.
She speaks optimistically about the new plan.
sprechen means to speak, über means about, and der neue Plan is the new plan. Optimistisch describes how she speaks and therefore remains unchanged; über den neuen Plan uses the accusative because this meaning of über refers to a topic.
das Pech — bad luck; pitch, tar
Pech haben means “to be unlucky”; it does not mean literally “to have pitch”. Pech is normally uncountable, so it has no plural in the everyday sense of bad luck.
Das Pech verfolgt ihn.
Bad luck follows him.
verfolgt means follows and ihn means him. Das Pech is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb verfolgt stands in position two.
Wir haben heute Pech.
We are unlucky today.
heute means today and haben means have. Pech is an uncountable accusative object in the expression Pech haben; the finite verb haben stands in position two.
Mit dem Pech kann ich nicht rechnen.
I cannot count on that bad luck.
mit means with, rechnen means count on, and nicht means not. The preposition mit always takes the dative, so dem Pech is dative; the finite modal kann is in position two and rechnen goes to the end.
Die Folgen des Pechs waren teuer.
The consequences of the bad luck were costly.
die Folgen means the consequences and teuer means costly. des Pechs is genitive because it means “of the bad luck”; the neuter noun adds -s, and waren stands in position two.
So viel Pech an einem Tag ist kaum zu glauben.
So much bad luck in one day is hardly believable.
so viel means so much, an einem Tag means in one day, and kaum zu glauben means hardly believable. Pech is a mass noun and normally has no plural; the whole phrase is the nominative subject, so ist stands in position two.
Das Pech klebt an den Schuhen.
The pitch is sticking to the shoes.
klebt means sticks, an means on, and die Schuhe means the shoes. Das Pech is nominative as the subject, while an den Schuhen is dative because it describes location.
Die Straße wurde mit Pech ausgebessert.
The road was repaired with pitch.
die Straße means the road and ausgebessert means repaired. mit Pech is dative after mit; the passive uses wurde in position two and ausgebessert at the end.
peinlich — embarrassing, awkward
peinlich describes something that makes a person feel embarrassed or uncomfortable. It can be used predicatively without an ending, as in Das ist peinlich, or before a noun with the normal adjective ending.
Die Situation ist peinlich.
The situation is embarrassing.
die Situation means the situation. Peinlich is predicative after sein, so it has no adjective ending; the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Er erzählt eine peinliche Geschichte.
He is telling an embarrassing story.
erzählt means tells and eine Geschichte means a story. peinliche describes Geschichte and takes -e after eine; eine peinliche Geschichte is accusative because erzählen takes a direct object.
Das ist noch peinlicher.
That is even more embarrassing.
noch means even or still. Peinlicher is the comparative form of peinlich and is predicative after ist, so it has no adjective ending; ist stands in position two.
Das war der peinlichste Moment des Abends.
That was the most embarrassing moment of the evening.
der Moment means the moment and des Abends means of the evening. Before the masculine noun Moment, the superlative uses -st- plus the adjective ending -e: peinlichste; the genitive phrase des Abends shows whose evening it was.
Es ist peinlich, vor allen Leuten zu stolpern.
It is embarrassing to trip in front of everyone.
vor allen Leuten means in front of everyone and stolpern means trip or stumble. Peinlich is predicative after ist and therefore has no ending; the infinitive phrase zu stolpern explains what is embarrassing.
positiv — positive, optimistic; favourable
positiv can describe an optimistic attitude, a favourable result or approval. It can also mean positive in mathematics or science; the opposite is negativ.
Die neue Idee ist positiv.
The new idea is positive.
die neue Idee means the new idea. positiv describes the subject after ist, so it has no adjective ending; the finite verb ist is in position two.
Sie hat eine positive Einstellung zum Leben.
She has a positive attitude to life.
eine Einstellung means an attitude, and zum Leben means to life. eine positive Einstellung is accusative because haben takes an accusative object, and the adjective takes -e after the indefinite article.
Heute bin ich positiver als gestern.
Today I am more positive than yesterday.
heute means today and gestern means yesterday. positiver compares two states and is followed by als; after bin it is predicative and has no adjective ending.
Das war die positivste Nachricht des Tages.
That was the most positive news of the day.
die Nachricht means the piece of news, and des Tages means of the day. die positivste Nachricht is nominative after war, and the superlative before a noun takes an adjective ending.
Der Arzt bewertet das Ergebnis positiv.
The doctor assesses the result positively.
der Arzt is the doctor, bewertet means assesses, and das Ergebnis is the result. Here positiv describes how the action is performed, so it is used adverbially without an ending; das Ergebnis is accusative.
respektlos — disrespectful, rude
respektlos describes words or behaviour that show no respect. Its opposite is respektvoll; before a noun, remember that it needs a normal adjective ending, as in ein respektloser Kommentar.
Sein Ton ist respektlos.
His tone is disrespectful.
sein Ton means “his tone”. respektlos is predicative after ist, so it has no adjective ending; the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Das war ein respektloser Kommentar.
That was a disrespectful comment.
ein Kommentar means “a comment”, and das war means “that was”. respektloser comes before the masculine noun Kommentar after the indefinite article ein, so it takes the nominative masculine ending -er.
Seine Antwort war respektloser als seine Frage.
His answer was more disrespectful than his question.
seine Antwort means “his answer”, and seine Frage means “his question”. The comparative uses -er and is followed by als; because respektloser is predicative after war, it has no additional adjective ending.
Er hat sich am respektlosesten verhalten.
He behaved the most disrespectfully.
sich verhalten means “to behave”, and am is part of the superlative expression. am respektlosesten is predicative after verhalten; the perfect uses hat and puts verhalten at the end.
romantisch — romantic; Romantic; of Romanticism
romantisch can describe love, a loving atmosphere, or something emotionally beautiful. Its regular comparison is romantischer, am romantischsten.
Der Abend ist romantisch.
The evening is romantic.
der Abend means the evening. romantisch is predicative after ist, so it has no adjective ending; ist stands in position two.
Sie plant ein romantisches Essen.
She is planning a romantic meal.
planen means to plan and das Essen means the meal. romantisches describes an accusative neuter object after ein, so it takes -es; the finite verb plant is in position two.
Dieses Café ist romantischer als das andere.
This café is more romantic than the other one.
dieses Café means this café and das andere means the other one. romantischer compares two cafés and is followed by als, meaning than; after ist it is predicative and has no case ending.
Der See ist am romantischsten.
The lake is the most romantic.
der See means the lake. am romantischsten is the predicative superlative, built with am and -sten, and ist remains in position two.
Goethe war ein romantischer Dichter.
Goethe was a Romantic poet.
Goethe is a famous German writer, and der Dichter means poet. romantischer describes the nominative masculine noun Dichter after ein; war is the past-tense form of sein.
Wir lernen heute romantische Literatur kennen.
Today we are getting to know Romantic literature.
heute means today, lernen ... kennen means get to know, and die Literatur means literature. romantische Literatur is an accusative object, and the separable verb places kennen at the end.
sanft — gentle, soft, mild
The adjective can describe a person, touch, sound, movement, or other thing that is gentle or not forceful. The comparative is sanfter, and the superlative is am sanftesten.
Die Musik ist sanft.
The music is gentle.
die Musik means the music. Sanft is predicative after ist, so it has no adjective ending; the finite verb ist is in position two.
Sie hört eine sanfte Stimme.
She hears a gentle voice.
hört means hears and die Stimme means the voice. Eine sanfte Stimme is accusative because hören takes a direct object; sanfte has an ending because it comes before the feminine noun after eine.
Der Wind ist heute sanfter als gestern.
The wind is gentler today than yesterday.
der Wind means the wind, heute means today, and gestern means yesterday. Sanfter compares two times with als and is predicative after ist, so it has no adjective ending.
Dieses Tuch ist am sanftesten.
This cloth is the softest.
dieses Tuch means this cloth. Am sanftesten is the superlative in the am ...-sten form; it is used after ist, not directly before a noun.
sanft — gently, softly, mildly
As an adverb, sanft describes an action and never receives an adjective ending. Compare sanfte Stimme, where the same word is an adjective before a noun.
Bitte sprich sanft mit dem Kind.
Please speak gently to the child.
sprich means speak, bitte means please, and das Kind means the child. Sanft is an adverb, so it does not take an adjective ending; the imperative sprich comes first and mit dem Kind is a dative phrase after mit.
Der Vogel landet sanft auf dem Dach.
The bird lands softly on the roof.
der Vogel means the bird, landet means lands, and das Dach means the roof. Sanft describes the verb landet and therefore stays unchanged; auf dem Dach is dative because it describes a location, not movement towards it.
schade — a pity; unfortunate
This adjective is normally used predicatively, especially in Das ist schade and Wie schade! It is not normally used attributively before a noun and is not compared.
Das ist schade.
That's a pity.
Das means “that”, and schade means “a pity” or “unfortunate”. The finite verb ist is in position two, and schade comes after sein as a predicative adjective; it is not normally placed before a noun.
Das Wort „schade“ steht normalerweise nicht vor einem Nomen.
The word “schade” is not normally placed before a noun.
Das Wort means “the word”, normalerweise means “normally”, vor means “before”, and ein Nomen means “a noun”. This sentence explains that schade is predicative-only: it normally follows sein rather than standing attributively before a noun.
Das Wort „schade“ hat keine übliche Komparativform.
The word “schade” has no usual comparative form.
Das Wort means “the word”, keine means “no”, üblich means “usual”, and Komparativform means “comparative form”. Schade is not normally compared, so learners should not invent a form such as schader.
Das Wort „schade“ hat auch keine Superlativform.
The word “schade” also has no superlative form.
auch means “also”, and Superlativform means “superlative form”. Schade expresses a fixed evaluation and is not normally compared, so learners should not form a superlative such as am schadesten.
schimpfen — to scold, to complain
With a person, schimpfen mit takes the dative; with a topic, schimpfen über usually takes the accusative. Do not confuse schimpfen with simply speaking loudly: it normally expresses anger or strong disapproval.
Die Mutter schimpft mit ihrem Sohn.
The mother is scolding her son.
die Mutter is the mother and ihr Sohn is her son. mit always takes the dative, so ihrem Sohn is dative; the finite verb schimpft stands in position two.
Er hat über den Lärm geschimpft.
He complained about the noise.
der Lärm means the noise. über den Lärm is accusative because this sense uses über for the topic of a complaint; hat geschimpft forms the perfect, with geschimpft at the end.
Der Nachbar schimpfte den ganzen Abend.
The neighbour complained all evening.
der Nachbar is the neighbour and den ganzen Abend means all evening. schimpfte is the weak past form in position two; the time phrase is accusative because it expresses duration.
Schimpf nicht mit deiner Schwester!
Don’t scold your sister!
nicht means not and deine Schwester is your sister. mit deiner Schwester is dative because mit requires dative; the imperative omits du, and nicht makes the command negative.
Wenn ich mehr Zeit hätte, schimpfte ich nicht so oft.
If I had more time, I wouldn’t complain so often.
wenn means if, mehr Zeit means more time, and so oft means so often. The Konjunktiv II form is identical to the simple past here; hätte is final in the wenn clause, while schimpfte is in position two in the main clause.
Der Trainer wird über das Wetter schimpfen.
The coach will complain about the weather.
der Trainer is the coach and das Wetter is the weather. wird schimpfen forms the future; the finite verb wird is in position two and the infinitive schimpfen goes to the end.
schlimm — bad; unpleasant; serious; severe; serious
The adjective schlimm can mean generally bad or, for an event or injury, serious. Its comparison is regular: schlimm – schlimmer – am schlimmsten.
Der Unfall war schlimm.
The accident was serious.
der Unfall means the accident. Schlimm is used predicatively after war, so it has no adjective ending; war is the finite verb in position two and agrees with the singular subject.
Das war ein schlimmer Tag.
That was a bad day.
ein Tag means a day, and war means was. Schlimmer stands before the masculine nominative noun Tag after the indefinite article ein, so it takes the ending -er.
Heute geht es mir schlimmer als gestern.
I feel worse today than yesterday.
heute means today, mir means to me, and gestern means yesterday. Schlimmer compares today with yesterday; mir is dative because the expression es geht jemandem describes how someone feels.
Das war der schlimmste Moment meines Lebens.
That was the worst moment of my life.
der Moment means the moment, and meines Lebens means of my life. Schlimmste is the superlative before a masculine nominative noun after der; meines Lebens is genitive and shows whose life is meant.
Sie hat schlimme Kopfschmerzen.
She has a severe headache.
Kopfschmerzen means headache, and hat means has. Schlimme Kopfschmerzen is the accusative object of hat; the plural adjective takes -e after the zero article.
Der Sturm hat schlimme Schäden verursacht.
The storm caused serious damage.
der Sturm means the storm, and Schäden means damage or damages. Schlimme Schäden is the accusative object of verursacht; hat verursacht forms the perfect, with the participle at the end.
schlimm — badly; severely; terribly
As an adverb, schlimm describes a verb or a whole situation and does not take an adjective ending. Do not confuse it with the adjective use before a noun, as in ein schlimmer Fehler.
Der Kaffee schmeckt schlimm.
The coffee tastes awful.
der Kaffee means the coffee, and schmeckt means tastes. Schlimm is an adverb describing the taste; the finite verb schmeckt is in position two, and the adverb has no adjective ending.
Es tut schlimm weh.
It hurts badly.
weh tun means to hurt, and es means it. Schlimm describes the degree of the pain; in the separable verb tut ... weh, tut is in position two and weh stands at the end.
der Schock — shock, fright
Der Schock can describe emotional shock or a frightening surprise. For an electric shock, German also commonly uses der Stromschlag.
Der Schock war groß.
The shock was severe.
groß means great or severe. Der Schock is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb war stands in position two.
Die Nachricht gab mir einen Schock.
The news gave me a shock.
die Nachricht means the news and gab means gave. Einen Schock is accusative as the thing given, while mir is dative for the person affected.
Nach dem Schock brauchte sie Ruhe.
After the shock, she needed peace and quiet.
nach means after, brauchte means needed, sie means she, and Ruhe means peace and quiet. Nach always takes the dative, so dem Schock is dative; the verb brauchte is in position two after the opening phrase.
Die Folgen des Schocks waren noch spürbar.
The effects of the shock were still noticeable.
die Folgen means the effects, noch means still, and spürbar means noticeable. Des Schocks is genitive because it identifies the source of the effects; waren agrees with plural die Folgen.
Solche Schocks können lange dauern.
Shocks like that can last a long time.
solche means such, können means can, and lange dauern means last a long time. Schocks is plural and is the nominative subject; after the modal können, the infinitive dauern goes to the end.
schrecklich — terrible, frightening, awful
Schrecklich can mean frightening or simply very unpleasant, depending on the context. Its comparison is regular: schrecklicher, am schrecklichsten.
Der Film ist schrecklich.
The film is terrible.
der Film means the film. Schrecklich is predicative after ist, so it has no adjective ending; the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Wir hörten eine schreckliche Geschichte.
We heard a terrible story.
hören means to hear, and die Geschichte means the story. Eine schreckliche Geschichte is accusative because hörten takes a direct object, and the adjective has -e after the feminine article eine.
Der Sturm war schrecklicher als erwartet.
The storm was more terrible than expected.
der Sturm means the storm, and erwartet means expected. Schrecklicher compares the storm with an implied earlier expectation; after war, the adjective is predicative and has no ending.
Das war der schrecklichste Tag meines Lebens.
That was the most terrible day of my life.
der Tag means the day, and mein Leben means my life. Der schrecklichste Tag is nominative after war, and the adjective takes -ste plus the masculine ending -e; meines Lebens is genitive possession.
Der Hund sieht schrecklich aus.
The dog looks terrible.
der Hund means the dog, and aussehen means to look or appear. Schrecklich is predicative with no ending, while the separable verb splits as sieht ... aus and the prefix goes to the end.
Die Kinder hatten schreckliche Angst vor dem Gewitter.
The children were terribly afraid of the thunderstorm.
die Kinder means the children, Angst haben means to be afraid, and das Gewitter means the thunderstorm. Schreckliche Angst is an accusative phrase after hatten, while vor dem Gewitter uses dative because vor expresses the object of fear here.
schüchtern — shy, timid
Schüchtern describes someone who lacks confidence in social situations; it is not the same as ängstlich, which means fearful. Comparison is regular: schüchtern – schüchterner – am schüchternsten.
Der neue Schüler ist sehr schüchtern.
The new pupil is very shy.
der neue Schüler means the new pupil. Schüchtern is predicative after ist, so it has no adjective ending; ist is the finite verb in position two.
Ein schüchternes Mädchen sitzt allein am Tisch.
A shy girl is sitting alone at the table.
ein Mädchen means a girl, allein means alone, and am Tisch means at the table. Ein schüchternes Mädchen is nominative because it is the subject, and the neuter adjective takes -es after ein.
Tom ist schüchterner als seine Schwester.
Tom is shyer than his sister.
seine Schwester means his sister. Schüchterner compares Tom with his sister and is predicative after ist, so it has no adjective ending; als introduces the second person.
Von allen Kindern spricht Mia am schüchternsten.
Of all the children, Mia speaks most shyly.
von allen Kindern means of all the children, and spricht means speaks. Am schüchternsten is the adverbial superlative; von takes the dative, shown by allen Kindern.
die Sorge — worry, concern; care, provision
The common expression sich Sorgen machen means to worry, while Sorge in the singular often means one specific concern. For general worries, German commonly uses the plural Sorgen.
Die Sorge um seine Gesundheit ist groß.
The concern about his health is great.
um seine Gesundheit means about his health, and groß means great or strong. Die Sorge is nominative because it is the subject; the preposition um takes the accusative, shown by seine Gesundheit.
Ich habe die Sorge, dass er zu spät kommt.
I am worried that he will arrive too late.
zu spät means too late, and kommen means to arrive or come. Die Sorge is accusative because haben takes an accusative object; in the dass clause, the finite verb kommt goes to the end.
Mit der Sorge kann ich nicht gut umgehen.
I cannot deal well with the worry.
mit means with, and gut umgehen means to deal well with something. Der Sorge is dative because mit always takes the dative; the separable verb umgehen splits, so um stands at the end.
Die Ursache der Sorge ist noch unklar.
The cause of the concern is still unclear.
die Ursache means the cause, and noch unklar means still unclear. Der Sorge is genitive because it identifies whose or what concern is meant; the finite verb ist is in position two.
Viele Sorgen verschwinden nach einem Gespräch.
Many worries disappear after a conversation.
viele means many, verschwinden means disappear, and Gespräch means conversation. Sorgen is plural and nominative as the subject; nach takes the dative, so einem Gespräch means after a conversation.
Die Eltern tragen Sorge für ihre Kinder.
The parents take care of their children.
die Eltern means the parents, tragen means carry or bear, and Kinder means children. In the fixed expression Sorge tragen für, Sorge is the accusative object of tragen, while für takes the accusative in ihre Kinder.
Sie trägt Sorge dafür, dass alles pünktlich fertig wird.
She makes sure that everything is finished on time.
dafür sorgen means to make sure, pünktlich means on time, and fertig means finished. The phrase Sorge tragen dafür is followed by a dass clause, whose finite verb wird goes to the end.
sorgen — to worry, to be concerned; to take care of, to provide for
For the meaning to worry, sorgen is commonly reflexive: sich sorgen um takes an accusative object after um. It also has a different construction, für jemanden sorgen, meaning to take care of someone; its perfect uses haben.
Ich sorge mich um meine kranke Mutter.
I am worried about my sick mother.
kranke Mutter means ill mother. The reflexive mich refers back to ich, and um meine kranke Mutter is accusative because um takes the accusative; the finite verb sorge is in position two.
Ich habe mich um meine kranke Mutter gesorgt.
I worried about my sick mother.
kranke Mutter means ill mother. The perfect uses haben plus gesorgt, and the reflexive pronoun mich is accusative; the participle stands at the end of the clause.
Früher sorgte er sich oft um seine Arbeit.
He often used to worry about his work.
früher means in the past, oft means often, and Arbeit means work. Sorgte is the regular Präteritum form; sich refers to er, and um seine Arbeit is accusative.
Sorg dich nicht um mich!
Do not worry about me!
dich nicht means not yourself, and um mich means about me. The du imperative is sorg; dich is reflexive, while um takes the accusative mich.
Wenn ich mehr Zeit hätte, würde ich mich weniger sorgen.
If I had more time, I would worry less.
mehr Zeit means more time, and weniger means less. The wenn clause sends hätte to the end; in the main clause, würde is in position two and the infinitive sorgen goes to the end.
Du wirst dich immer um deine Familie sorgen.
You will always worry about your family.
immer means always, and deine Familie means your family. Future uses wirst plus the infinitive sorgen; dich refers to du, and the infinitive stands at the end.
Sie sorgt für ihre kleinen Kinder.
She takes care of her small children.
kleinen Kinder means small children. Für ihre kleinen Kinder is accusative because für always takes the accusative; the finite verb sorgt is in position two.
Er sorgt dafür, dass alle genug Essen haben.
He makes sure that everyone has enough food.
dafür sorgen means to make sure, alle means everyone, and genug Essen means enough food. The dass clause sends its finite verb haben to the end, while sorgt remains in position two in the main clause.
spannend — exciting, suspenseful, interesting
Spannend describes something that holds your attention because the result is uncertain or important. It comes from the verb spannen, but as an adjective it is compared regularly: spannender, am spannendsten.
Der Film ist spannend.
The film is exciting.
der Film means “the film”. Spannend is predicative after ist, so it has no adjective ending; the finite verb ist is in position two.
Sie liest einen spannenden Krimi.
She is reading an exciting crime novel.
liest means “is reading”, and einen Krimi is a crime novel. Spannenden stands before the masculine accusative noun Krimi and takes -en after einen; the finite verb liest is in position two.
Das Buch ist spannender als der Film.
The book is more exciting than the film.
das Buch means “the book”, and als means “than”. Spannender compares the book with the film and is predicative after ist, so it has no adjective ending.
Die letzte Folge war am spannendsten.
The last episode was the most exciting.
die letzte Folge means “the last episode”. Am spannendsten is the predicative superlative used after war; war is the past-tense form of sein and stands in position two.
die Spannung — tension, suspense; voltage; suspense
In an emotional or social context, Spannung means tension; in a film or story, it means suspense. In physics, elektrische Spannung means voltage, so context is essential.
Die Spannung steigt langsam.
The tension is rising slowly.
steigt langsam means “is rising slowly”. Die Spannung is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb steigt stands in position two.
Der Film erzeugt die Spannung.
The film creates the suspense.
erzeugt means “creates”, and der Film means “the film”. Die Spannung is accusative because erzeugen takes a direct object; the finite verb erzeugt is in position two.
Wir arbeiten mit der Spannung.
We are working with the voltage.
arbeiten means “work”, and mit means “with”. Der Spannung is dative because mit always requires the dative; the finite verb arbeiten is in position two.
Die Messung der Spannung dauert nur eine Minute.
Measuring the voltage takes only one minute.
die Messung means “the measurement”, and dauert nur eine Minute means “takes only one minute”. Der Spannung is genitive and specifies what is being measured; the finite verb dauert stands in position two.
Hohe Spannungen können Geräte beschädigen.
High voltages can damage devices.
hohe means “high”, Geräte means “devices”, and beschädigen means “damage”. Spannungen is plural and nominative as the subject; with the modal verb können, the infinitive beschädigen goes to the end.
Die Geschichte hält die Spannung bis zum Ende.
The story keeps the suspense until the end.
die Geschichte means “the story”, hält means “keeps”, and bis zum Ende means “until the end”. Die Spannung is accusative because halten takes a direct object; the finite verb hält is in position two.
Vor dem Finale war die Spannung besonders groß.
Before the finale, the suspense was especially great.
vor dem Finale means “before the finale”, and besonders groß means “especially great”. Die Spannung is nominative as the subject of war; the finite verb war remains in position two even though the sentence begins with a time phrase.
stark — strong, powerful; intense
Stark can describe physical power, flavour, wind, feelings, or effects. Its comparative and superlative change the vowel: stark – stärker – am stärksten.
Der Kaffee ist stark.
The coffee is strong.
der Kaffee is the coffee. Stark is predicative after ist, so it has no adjective ending; it describes the subject der Kaffee.
Sie trägt eine starke Tasche.
She is carrying a strong, sturdy bag.
trägt means is carrying, and die Tasche is the bag. Starke stands before the feminine accusative noun Tasche and takes -e after eine.
Der Wind ist heute stärker als gestern.
The wind is stronger today than yesterday.
der Wind is the wind, and gestern means yesterday. Stärker compares two situations and is followed by als; after ist, the adjective is predicative and has no ending.
Im Winter ist der Wind am stärksten.
In winter, the wind is strongest.
im Winter means in winter. Am stärksten is the predicative superlative after ist; im is short for in dem, with the dative.
staunen — to be amazed, to marvel
Staunen is normally used with über plus accusative for the thing that causes amazement: über etwas staunen. It is a regular weak verb and takes haben in the perfect.
Sie staunt über das große Gebäude.
She is amazed by the large building.
sie means she, and das große Gebäude is the large building. Über das große Gebäude is accusative because über expresses the object of amazement here; the finite verb staunt stands in position two.
Wir haben über seine Geschichte gestaunt.
We were amazed by his story.
seine Geschichte means his story. The perfect uses haben plus gestaunt, with the participle at the end; über seine Geschichte is accusative because über has this meaning with accusative.
Der Junge staunte, als er den Schnee sah.
The boy was amazed when he saw the snow.
der Junge is the boy, and der Schnee is snow. Staunte is simple past in the main clause, while sah goes to the end of the als-clause; den Schnee is accusative after sah.
Staune über die Aussicht!
Be amazed by the view!
die Aussicht means the view. Staune is the informal singular imperative with omitted du, and über die Aussicht is accusative because über introduces what causes the amazement.
Wenn du das Ergebnis wüsstest, stauntest du auch.
If you knew the result, you would be amazed too.
das Ergebnis means the result, and auch means too. Stauntest is the same-looking form as the simple past but expresses an unreal result here; the finite verb wüsstest goes to the end of the wenn-clause.
Ihr werdet über diesen Film staunen.
You will be amazed by this film.
ihr means you plural, and dieser Film means this film. Future uses werdet in position two and the infinitive staunen at the end; über diesen Film is accusative after über in this meaning.
die Stimmung — mood, atmosphere; atmosphere
die Stimmung can describe a person’s mood or the atmosphere in a group or place. gute Stimmung means a positive atmosphere, while schlechte Stimmung means a negative one.
Die Stimmung ist heute sehr gut.
The mood is very good today.
heute means today, and sehr gut means very good. Die Stimmung is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb ist is in position two, and gut is predicative with no adjective ending.
Der Witz verbessert die Stimmung.
The joke improves the mood.
der Witz is the joke, and verbessern means to improve. die Stimmung is accusative because verbessern takes a direct object; the finite verb verbessert stands in position two.
Musik hilft der Stimmung im Raum.
Music helps the atmosphere in the room.
die Musik is music, helfen means to help, and der Raum is the room. helfen takes the dative, so der Stimmung is dative; im Raum is also dative because in describes a location.
Wegen der Stimmung gingen wir früher nach Hause.
Because of the mood, we went home earlier.
wegen means because of, früher means earlier, and nach Hause means home. In standard German, wegen takes the genitive, so der Stimmung is genitive; gingen is in position two after the fronted prepositional phrase.
Auf der Party waren die Stimmungen sehr unterschiedlich.
The moods at the party were very different.
die Party is the party, unterschiedlich means different, and auf der Party means at the party. Stimmungen is plural and is the subject; waren is the plural past form of sein, and unterschiedlich is predicative.
Im Stadion herrschte eine fantastische Stimmung.
There was a fantastic atmosphere in the stadium.
das Stadion is the stadium, herrschen means to prevail or reign, and fantastisch means fantastic. im Stadion is dative because in describes a location; eine fantastische Stimmung is the nominative subject after herrschte.
Die ruhige Stimmung im Café gefällt mir.
I like the quiet atmosphere in the café.
ruhig means quiet, das Café is the café, and gefallen means to please or be liked. Die ruhige Stimmung is nominative, while mir is dative because gefallen means literally “be pleasing to me.”
stolz — proud; conceited, too proud
With people or achievements, stolz auf means proud of and auf takes the accusative. Do not confuse stolz with English stiff; the usual English meaning is proud.
Ich bin stolz auf meine Tochter.
I am proud of my daughter.
meine Tochter means my daughter. Stolz auf takes the accusative here because this fixed phrase uses auf for the thing or person one is proud of; the adjective follows the verb bin.
Das ist ein stolzer Vater.
That is a proud father.
ein Vater means a father. Stolzer stands before the masculine noun Vater and has the ending -er after ein; the adjective describes the noun directly.
Sie ist stolzer als ihr Bruder.
She is prouder than her brother.
ihr Bruder means her brother. Stolzer compares two people and is followed by als, meaning than; the adjective comes after the verb ist.
Er ist am stolzesten auf seinen Sohn.
He is proudest of his son.
seinen Sohn means his son. Am stolzesten is the superlative used after ist, and auf takes the accusative in this expression.
Er ist zu stolz, um um Hilfe zu bitten.
He is too proud to ask for help.
um Hilfe zu bitten means to ask for help, and zu stolz means too proud. The um ... zu clause gives the purpose or result and ends with the infinitive bitten.
Sie stolz auf ihren Erfolg.
She is proud of her success.
ihren Erfolg means her success. Auf takes the accusative after stolz, and stolz is the predicate adjective after the omitted verb in this short, conversational sentence.
der Streit — argument, quarrel, dispute
Streit is often used with mit for the person involved and über for the topic. It can describe anything from a small argument to a serious conflict.
Der Streit beginnt sofort.
The argument starts immediately.
sofort means immediately, and beginnt means starts. Der Streit is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb beginnt stands in position two.
Ich möchte den Streit beenden.
I want to end the argument.
möchte means would like, and beenden means to end. Den Streit is accusative because beenden takes an accusative object; after möchte, the infinitive beenden goes to the end.
Nach dem Streit sprechen wir wieder miteinander.
After the argument, we speak to each other again.
nach means after, wieder means again, and miteinander means with each other. Dem Streit is dative because nach always takes the dative; the finite verb sprechen is in position two.
Die Ursache des Streits ist unklar.
The cause of the argument is unclear.
die Ursache means the cause, and unklar means unclear. Des Streits is genitive because it identifies whose cause it is; the masculine noun adds -s in the genitive.
In dieser Klasse gibt es oft Streite.
There are often arguments in this class.
in dieser Klasse means in this class, and oft means often. Streite is the plural of der Streit; after es gibt, the plural noun is accusative, although its form is the same as the nominative plural.
Wir haben gestern einen Streit gehabt.
We had an argument yesterday.
gestern means yesterday, and gehabt means had. Einen Streit is accusative because haben takes an accusative object; the perfect uses haben and places gehabt at the end.
streiten — to argue, to quarrel
The common pattern is sich mit jemandem streiten or sich über etwas streiten. The reflexive pronoun is accusative, while mit takes a dative person.
Die Kinder streiten über das Spielzeug.
The children are arguing about the toy.
die Kinder means the children, über means about, and das Spielzeug means the toy. With the meaning “argue,” sich streiten is normally reflexive; über das Spielzeug uses accusative because this meaning of über takes the accusative for a topic.
Wir haben uns gestern gestritten.
We argued yesterday.
uns means ourselves or each other, and gestern means yesterday. The perfect is formed with haben and gestritten; the Partizip II goes to the end, while the reflexive pronoun is accusative.
Er stritt lange mit seinem Bruder.
He argued with his brother for a long time.
lange means for a long time, and sein Bruder means his brother. Stritt is the strong-verb past form; mit seinem Bruder is dative because mit always takes the dative.
Streit nicht mit deiner Schwester!
Don’t argue with your sister!
deine Schwester means your sister. Streit is the informal du imperative, and mit deiner Schwester is dative because mit requires the dative; the subject du is left out.
Ich würde mich nicht über Kleinigkeiten streiten.
I wouldn’t argue about trivial things.
Kleinigkeiten means trivial or minor things, and nicht means not. Würde plus the infinitive streiten forms the second conditional; mich is the accusative reflexive pronoun for ich.
Sie werden sich morgen wieder streiten.
They will argue again tomorrow.
morgen means tomorrow, and wieder means again. Future I uses werden in position two and the infinitive streiten at the end; sich is the reflexive pronoun for sie.
der Stress — stress, pressure
Stress is usually an uncountable noun, so it normally has no plural. The common phrase unter Stress stehen means “to be under stress” and uses unter with the dative for a state or situation.
Stress macht mich müde.
Stress makes me tired.
müde means tired and macht means makes. Stress is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb macht is in position two.
Ich habe heute viel Stress.
I have a lot of stress today.
heute means today and viel means a lot of. Stress is accusative because haben takes an accusative object, and the finite verb habe stands in position two.
Mit Stress kann ich nicht gut arbeiten.
I cannot work well under stress.
mit means with or under, gut means well, and arbeiten means to work. mit always takes the dative, so Stress has the same form here; the finite verb kann is in position two and arbeiten goes to the end.
Die Folgen des Stresses sind deutlich.
The consequences of the stress are clear.
die Folgen means the consequences and deutlich means clear. des Stresses is genitive because it shows what the consequences belong to, and the plural subject Folgen makes sind the finite verb in position two.
super — great, excellent, fantastic
Super is informal and very common in speech. It can describe people, things or experiences, but it is stronger and more enthusiastic than neutral gut.
Der Film ist super.
The film is great.
der Film is the film, and ist means is. Super is predicative after sein, so it has no adjective ending; the finite verb ist is in position two.
Wir hatten einen super Abend.
We had a great evening.
wir hatten means we had, and der Abend is the evening. Super describes Abend before the noun; in informal German it is often left without an ending, although standard inflected forms such as superen can also occur after einen.
Dieses Konzert ist superer als das letzte.
This concert is better than the last one.
dieses Konzert means this concert, and das letzte means the last one. Superer compares two things and is followed by als; after ist, the adjective is predicative and therefore has no case ending.
Das war der superste Moment des Tages.
That was the best moment of the day.
der Moment is the moment, and des Tages means of the day. Superste is an attributive superlative with the definite article der, so it has -e; des Tages is genitive to show possession.
tapfer — brave, courageous
tapfer describes courage, especially when something is difficult or frightening. The comparative is tapferer, and the predicative superlative is am tapfersten.
Die junge Frau ist sehr tapfer.
The young woman is very brave.
die junge Frau means the young woman, and sehr means very. The adjective is predicative after ist, so it has no ending; the finite verb ist is in position two.
Der tapfere Feuerwehrmann rettet das Kind.
The brave firefighter rescues the child.
der Feuerwehrmann is the firefighter, rettet means rescues, and das Kind is the child. tapfere stands before the masculine nominative noun and takes an adjective ending; das Kind is accusative because retten takes a direct object.
Mina war tapferer als ihr Bruder.
Mina was braver than her brother.
war means was, als means than, and ihr Bruder means her brother. The comparative tapferer is used with als; war is the finite verb in position two.
Von allen Kindern war Leo am tapfersten.
Of all the children, Leo was the bravest.
von allen Kindern means of all the children, and war means was. von takes the dative, and the predicative superlative uses am tapfersten, not an adjective ending before a noun.
der Traum — dream; dream, ambition, wish
der Traum can mean a dream during sleep or a strong wish for the future. The second meaning is often used with mein Traum ist es, ....
Der Traum war sehr schön.
The dream was very beautiful.
war means was and sehr schön means very beautiful. Der Traum is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb war stands in position two.
Ich erinnere mich an den Traum.
I remember the dream.
sich erinnern means to remember. An den Traum is accusative because this fixed expression uses an with the accusative; the reflexive pronoun mich agrees with ich.
Ich erzähle meiner Schwester von dem Traum.
I tell my sister about the dream.
erzählen means tell and meine Schwester means my sister. Meiner Schwester is dative because she is the person told, and von dem Traum is also dative because von requires the dative.
Die Bedeutung des Traums ist unklar.
The meaning of the dream is unclear.
die Bedeutung means meaning and unklar means unclear. Des Traums is genitive and means of the dream; the masculine noun adds -s, while ist remains in position two.
Viele Träume verschwinden am Morgen.
Many dreams disappear in the morning.
viele means many, verschwinden means disappear, and am Morgen means in the morning. Träume is the plural with an umlaut and -e; because it is the subject, the plural verb verschwinden is used.
Mein Traum ist eine Reise nach Japan.
My dream is a trip to Japan.
mein means my, eine Reise means a trip, and nach Japan means to Japan. Mein Traum is nominative because it is the subject; after ist, the phrase eine Reise nach Japan names what the dream is.
Sie erfüllt sich ihren Traum vom eigenen Café.
She is fulfilling her dream of having her own café.
sich etwas erfüllen means to fulfil something for oneself, eigenen means own, and das Café means café. Ihren Traum is accusative as the thing fulfilled, while sich is dative because the person fulfils the dream for herself.
die Träne — tear
The expression Tränen lachen means to laugh a lot, while Tränen weinen means to cry. The plural Tränen is also used for tears caused by strong emotion.
Die Träne läuft über ihre Wange.
The tear runs down her cheek.
läuft means runs, and die Wange is the cheek. Die Träne is nominative because it is the subject; ihre Wange means her cheek, and über takes the accusative here because the tear moves across it.
Er wischt die Träne weg.
He wipes the tear away.
wischt ... weg means wipes away. Die Träne is accusative because it is the object of wegwischen; the separable prefix weg goes to the end of the main clause.
Sie gibt der Träne keine Bedeutung.
She attaches no importance to the tear.
gibt ... Bedeutung literally means gives meaning or importance, and keine means no. Der Träne is dative because it is the recipient of geben, while keine Bedeutung is accusative.
Die Farbe der Träne ist klar.
The colour of the tear is clear.
die Farbe is the colour, and klar means clear. Der Träne is genitive because it identifies which colour is meant; the finite verb ist is in position two.
Beim Weinen kommen Tränen.
Tears come when crying.
beim Weinen means while crying, and kommen means come. Tränen is the plural subject; beim means bei dem and takes the dative, while the plural verb kommen is in position two.
träumen — to dream; to daydream
Träumen von means to dream about something and takes von plus the dative. For wanting something strongly, German can also use von etwas träumen, but the context shows whether the dream happens during sleep.
Ich träume oft von meiner Reise.
I often dream about my trip.
oft means often, and meine Reise is my trip. Von takes the dative in von meiner Reise; the finite verb träume is in position two, and träumen commonly uses von for the thing dreamed about.
Wir haben letzte Nacht geträumt.
We dreamed last night.
letzte Nacht means last night. Geträumt is the Partizip II and goes to the end, while haben is the auxiliary in position two; träumen takes haben, not sein.
Sie träumte von einem Haus am Meer.
She dreamed of a house by the sea.
ein Haus is a house, and am Meer means by the sea. Von takes the dative, so einem Haus is dative; träumte is the regular simple-past form and stands in position two.
Träum etwas Schönes!
Dream something beautiful!
etwas Schönes means something beautiful. Träum is the singular du imperative, and etwas Schönes is an accusative object; the subject du is left out because it is understood.
Ich träumte, ich wäre reich.
I dreamed that I was rich.
reich means rich, and wäre means would be or were. Here träumte introduces an imagined situation; in the subordinate clause after the comma, the finite verb wäre goes to the end.
Du wirst heute Nacht von deiner Prüfung träumen.
You will dream about your exam tonight.
heute Nacht means tonight, and deine Prüfung is your exam. Von takes the dative, so deiner Prüfung is dative; wirst is in position two and the infinitive träumen goes to the end.
umarmen — to hug, to embrace
umarmen is a regular verb that takes haben in the perfect. The person being hugged is normally an accusative object: jemanden umarmen.
Sie umarmt ihre Freundin zur Begrüßung.
She hugs her friend as a greeting.
ihre Freundin means her friend, and zur Begrüßung means as a greeting. ihre Freundin is accusative because umarmen takes the person being hugged as a direct object, while the finite verb umarmt stands in position two.
Der Vater hat seinen Sohn umarmt.
The father hugged his son.
Der Vater is the father and seinen Sohn is his son. seinen Sohn is accusative after umarmen; the auxiliary hat is in position two and the Partizip II umarmt goes at the end.
Die beiden umarmten sich nach dem Konzert.
The two of them hugged each other after the concert.
Die beiden means the two of them, sich means each other here, and nach dem Konzert means after the concert. The weak preterite umarmten is the finite verb in position two; nach takes the dative, so dem Konzert is dative.
Umarme deine Mutter!
Hug your mother!
deine Mutter means your mother. deine Mutter is accusative because it is the direct object, and the informal imperative umarme has no written du subject.
Ich würde ihn gern umarmen, wenn er hier wäre.
I would like to hug him if he were here.
ihn means him, gern means gladly or would like to, and wenn er hier wäre means if he were here. The polite hypothetical uses würde plus the infinitive umarmen at the end; ihn is accusative as the person being hugged.
Ich werde dich morgen umarmen.
I will hug you tomorrow.
dich means you, morgen means tomorrow, and umarmen means to hug. The future verb werde stands in position two and the infinitive umarmen goes to the end; dich is accusative.
unangenehm — unpleasant, uncomfortable
Use this adjective for something that causes discomfort or embarrassment. It is not normally used for serious danger; gefährlich means dangerous.
Der Geruch ist unangenehm.
The smell is unpleasant.
der Geruch means the smell. Unangenehm is predicative after ist, so it has no adjective ending; the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Das ist ein unangenehmer Moment.
That is an unpleasant moment.
der Moment means moment. Unangenehmer stands before Moment and has the ending -er because ein does not show the masculine nominative ending; ist is in position two.
Heute ist das Wetter unangenehmer als gestern.
The weather is more unpleasant today than yesterday.
heute means today, das Wetter means the weather, and gestern means yesterday. Unangenehmer is a predicative comparative with no ending, and als introduces the thing used for comparison.
Der Montag ist am unangenehmsten.
Monday is the most unpleasant.
der Montag means Monday. Am unangenehmsten is the predicative superlative, formed with am and -sten; because it follows ist, it does not take a noun ending.
ungern — reluctantly, not willingly; not like doing
ungern is the negative counterpart of gern and normally modifies a verb: Ich lese gern, but Ich lese ungern. It does not mean simply nicht; it adds the idea that the activity is unpleasant or unwanted.
Ich esse ungern scharfes Essen.
I do not like eating spicy food.
esse means eat, and scharfes Essen means spicy food. ungern modifies the verb and usually stands near it; the finite verb esse is in position two, while scharfes Essen is the accusative object of essen.
Er arbeitet ungern am Wochenende.
He does not like working at the weekend.
arbeitet means works, and am Wochenende means at the weekend. ungern says that he does the action unwillingly; am Wochenende is a time expression, and the finite verb arbeitet remains in position two.
unglücklich — unhappy, unfortunate; unfortunate, unlucky
This adjective can describe a person's feelings or a situation that has a bad result. Its opposite is glücklich, meaning happy or fortunate.
Ich bin heute sehr unglücklich.
I am very unhappy today.
heute means today and sehr means very. The adjective is predicative after sein, so it has no ending; the finite verb bin is in position two.
Sie führt ein unglückliches Leben.
She leads an unhappy life.
sie means she, führt means leads, and ein Leben is a life. ein unglückliches Leben is accusative because führen takes an accusative object, and the neuter adjective ending is -es after ein.
Er wirkt unglücklicher als gestern.
He seems unhappier than yesterday.
wirken means to seem or appear, and gestern means yesterday. unglücklicher is the comparative, and als introduces the thing used for comparison.
Sie sieht am unglücklichsten aus.
She looks the unhappiest.
aussehen means to look or appear, and sieht ... aus is its split form. am unglücklichsten is the superlative after aussehen; in a main clause, the finite verb is in position two and the prefix goes to the end.
Das Kind ist nach dem Streit unglücklich.
The child is unhappy after the argument.
das Kind is the child, nach means after, and der Streit is the argument. nach dem Streit is dative because nach always takes the dative, while unglücklich is predicative after ist and therefore has no ending.
Das war ein unglücklicher Zufall.
That was an unfortunate coincidence.
das war means that was, and der Zufall means coincidence. ein unglücklicher Zufall is nominative after sein; the masculine adjective takes -er after ein.
Durch eine unglückliche Bewegung fiel das Glas herunter.
The glass fell down because of an unfortunate movement.
durch means because of or through, die Bewegung is the movement, and herunterfallen means to fall down. durch eine unglückliche Bewegung is accusative because durch requires the accusative; the finite verb fiel is in position two.
unruhig — restless, uneasy, agitated
unruhig can describe a person, a child, an animal, or sleep that is not calm. The opposite is ruhig, meaning calm or quiet.
Das Kind ist unruhig.
The child is restless.
das Kind means the child, and ist means is. unruhig is predicative after sein, so it has no adjective ending; the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Der unruhige Hund bellt die ganze Nacht.
The restless dog barks all night.
der Hund means the dog, bellt means barks, and die ganze Nacht means all night. unruhige comes before the masculine nominative noun Hund and takes -e after der; die ganze Nacht is an accusative expression of duration.
Heute ist sie unruhiger als gestern.
Today she is more restless than yesterday.
heute means today, sie means she, and gestern means yesterday. unruhiger is the comparative after ist and als introduces the comparison; because the adjective is predicative, it has no ending.
Vor der Prüfung ist er am unruhigsten.
Before the exam, he is the most restless.
vor der Prüfung means before the exam, and er means he. am unruhigsten is the predicative superlative; vor takes the dative for time, shown by der Prüfung.
unsicher — uncertain, unsure, insecure
Unsicher can describe a lack of knowledge, safety, or self-confidence. It is not usually translated by one fixed English word; the context decides between unsure, uncertain, and insecure.
Ich bin unsicher, ob das die richtige Adresse ist.
I am not sure whether this is the right address.
die richtige Adresse means the correct address, and ob introduces whether. Unsicher is predicative after sein, so it has no adjective ending; the finite verb bin is in position two.
Sie sucht eine unsichere Stelle.
She is looking for an insecure job.
sie sucht means she is looking for, and eine Stelle is a job or position. Eine unsichere Stelle is accusative because suchen takes an accusative object, and the adjective takes -e after feminine eine.
Heute fühle ich mich unsicherer als gestern.
Today I feel less confident than yesterday.
heute means today and gestern means yesterday; sich fühlen means to feel. Unsicherer compares two states and is followed by als; mich is accusative because this use of sich fühlen is reflexive.
Vor der Prüfung war ich am unsichersten.
I was least confident before the exam.
die Prüfung is the exam, and vor means before. Am unsichersten is the predicative superlative; vor der Prüfung uses the dative because vor expresses time here.
vergessen — to forget; to leave behind; to omit
vergessen is a strong verb with the principal parts vergessen – vergaß – hat vergessen. It takes an accusative object, and the inseparable prefix ver- prevents ge- in the Partizip II.
Ich vergesse oft meinen Schlüssel.
I often forget my key.
oft means often, and mein Schlüssel is my key. meinen Schlüssel is accusative because vergessen takes a direct accusative object; the finite verb vergesse stands in position two.
Wir haben den Termin vergessen.
We forgot the appointment.
der Termin means the appointment. The perfect uses haben with the Partizip II vergessen at the end; den Termin is accusative because it is the object of vergessen.
Sie vergaß ihren Regenschirm im Zug.
She forgot her umbrella on the train.
ihren Regenschirm means her umbrella, and im Zug means on the train. ihren Regenschirm is accusative as the object, while vergaß is the strong-verb Präteritum in position two.
Vergiss bitte deinen Pass nicht!
Please don’t forget your passport!
bitte means please, deinen Pass means your passport, and nicht means not. Vergiss is the singular du imperative; the object deinen Pass is accusative, and nicht makes the command negative.
Wenn ich müde wäre, vergäße ich den Termin leicht.
If I were tired, I would easily forget the appointment.
wenn means if, müde means tired, and leicht means easily. vergäße is the direct Konjunktiv II of vergessen and expresses a hypothetical situation; wäre goes to the end of the wenn-clause, while vergäße stands in position two in the main clause.
Ich werde den Namen nicht vergessen.
I will not forget the name.
der Name means the name, and nicht means not. Future I uses werde in position two and the infinitive vergessen at the end; den Namen is accusative because it is the object.
Er hat seinen Regenschirm im Zug vergessen.
He left his umbrella on the train.
seinen Regenschirm means his umbrella, and im Zug means on the train. The object is accusative, while im Zug is dative because in describes a fixed location here; the Partizip II vergessen stands at the end.
Du hast die Hausaufgaben vergessen.
You forgot the homework.
die Hausaufgaben means the homework. It is an accusative object after vergessen, and the perfect is formed with hast plus vergessen at the end of the clause.